Effects of Acidic Deposition on Water Quality and Forest Health in Georgia

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Date
1997-03Author
Huntington, Thomas G.
Hooper, Richard P.
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Biogeochemical studies at the Panola Mountain
Research Watershed near Atlanta, Ga., and in the Coastal
Plain Province of Georgia have provided an assessment of
some of the potential effects of acid deposition on
streamwater quality and forest health in Georgia. Historically,
"acid rain" has not been considered a potentially serious
problem in the southeastern United States; however, recent
studies have raised questions about the sensitivity of forest
and aquatic resources to chronic pollutant loading. Intensive
streamwater-quality monitoring during storms has shown that
episodic acidification presently is occurring and likely will
become substantially more severe in future decades. Acidic
deposition at current rates does not appear to have direct
adverse effects on forest health, but does contribute to the
chronic loss of nutrient cations.